Jeffrey Archer is like a character in one of his own books. He has had an extraordinary life but even at this late stage, with all that has been said and written about him, it is hard to separate proven fact from fiction. Was his father ever Lord Mayor of Bristol (no) and neither was he a decorated war hero (he was in fact a bigamist and convicted fraudster); was Archer jnr an Olympic athlete for Britain (no, but he did run once for his country, against Ireland as it happens, and at least he had the wit to poke fun at himself in Who's Who by entering beside "ran for Great Britain" the observation "never fast enough"); was he a "fellow of the International Federation of Physical Culture (yes; it's a body building club that sells use-at-home keep fit kits); did he go to Oxford University (yes, in a manner of speaking, he did a diploma at a body attached to it); was he the youngest member of the Greater London Council and the House of Commons (no); and was he ever questioned about shoplifting (yes).
But what made Jeffery Archer an engaging and not entirely unlikable individual was his total self-belief and his ability to bounce back from adversity. When financial ruin beckoned at an earlier stage in his career, he tried his hand at writing. Whatever about the literary quality of his novels, no one can gainsay his success on the bookstands - and the financial reward it brought. Unable to achieve high political office through electoral success, he made himself indispensable to, first, Margaret Thatcher, and then John Major. Both canvassed for his elevation to the House of Lords and he was eventually ennobled as Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare. His fall yesterday is, therefore, spectacular and will have his enemies rubbing their hands with glee. There can be no doubt that despite some admirable qualities (much work for charity, for instance), Archer has been exposed at his trial as a deeply flawed individual. Only arrogance beyond measure and a contempt for the law can explain his long trail of lies - lies to the public, the media, the courts and, perhaps most hurtful of all, to his family, especially his wife.
The fact of Lord Archer's conviction speaks well of British law enforcement and the judicial establishment that brought him to book. Several commentators yesterday used the word "chancer" to describe him. How many chancers in this jurisdiction, who have lied and cheated their way through public and business life, have ended up in jail? His trial judge said Archer should serve at least two years - sufficient time for perhaps half a dozen pot boilers.